5 Steps to Preparing Your Vehicle for Safe Winter Diving

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in Accident Prevention on Thursday, November 12, 2015.

Get ready for safe winter driving with these 5 tips from CDOT, a Lakewood auto accident attorney explains. Contact us if you've been hurt in a crash.

Winter - and the cold, icy, snowy conditions it brings - are nearly upon us. While this can mean getting ready for holidays for many, it may also mean that it's time to start preparing your vehicle for harsh winter weather, as well as getting yourself ready for safe winter driving.

As you make these preparations, here are some specific tips that officials at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) want you to keep in mind:

Check your vehicle's tires - Ideally, your vehicle should have snow or mud/snow tires on it to be properly prepared to meet the challenges of winter driving. At the very least, however, make sure that your tires have 1/8-inch of tread on them. You can test this tread level using a quarter; place it upside down in the tread and see if the tread covers the top of Washington's head. If it does, you have enough tread. If it doesn't, it's tire replacement time.

Replenish your vehicle's fluids - Specifically, check and replenish (as needed) your vehicle's oil levels and wiper fluid levels. Also, when it comes to your vehicle's fluids in the winter, do your best to keep your gas take at least ¾ full at all times (this can be essential if you end up braking down/getting into a traffic accident and need to run your vehicle for some time to stay warm as you await help).

Be prepared for chain laws to come into play - When weather conditions may be particularly harsh, CDOT may invoke chain laws for passenger vehicles. So, make sure you are carrying chains in the trunk of all of your vehicles so that you are prepared.

Put together a winter safety kit to keep in your car - This kit is meant to help you if or when your vehicle breaks down in the winter. Some of the essentials to include in this kit include (but may not be limited to) water, blankets, extra hats/gloves, a radio, an extra cellphone, energy bars and ice scrapers/a shovel.

Get in the habit of checking the weather and your route before taking off - Just because the weather may be OK at your starting point does not mean that the weather is OK along your route or even at your destination. So, do your best to check the weather and your planned route before getting on the road. This can help you figure out if you need to reroute your trip or possibly even reschedule your plans.

Contact Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan

Have you been injured in a car accident? If so, Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan is here for you, ready to help you advocate your rights to justice and compensation.

To learn more about your options for financial recovery following a traffic crash, contact Attorney James L. Finegan today by calling (303) 980-5511 or (888) 980-5511. You can also send an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Lakewood, CO, James L. Finegan, P.C. provides superior representation to clients throughout Jefferson County and the state of Colorado, including those in Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Adams County and the Colorado Front Range region.

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